Automatic circuit breaker



A. ROTH .Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,320

AUTOMATIC C IRCUIT BREAKER Filed March 24, 1926 Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARIN OLD ROTH, OF BRON, NEAR LYON, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

Application filed March 24, 1926, Serial No. 96,978, and in Germany March 18, 1925.

This invention relates to automatic circuit breakers for electrical apparatus, of the type operated by overloads, particularly short cir- The drawin represents a sectional view of an air-brea switch having a magnetic blow-out.

In the drawing, a represents an arcing horn forming at a one of the break terminals, the other break terminal comprising a cooperating movable member b which has connection with the stationary horn memher a, by a flexible conductor e. The terminal b has insulated mounting on the movable core member g which .is pivoted at d to the stationary core member f. The movable and stationary core members carry respectively 0 the coils n and 0 which are connected in series to the line terminal a, the other line terminal at being connected to the born a.

A The coils n and 0 are wound so that when energized they exert repellant electrodynamic influence on each other tendin to swing the movable core portion 9 away om the core portion f. A voltage coil p is provided on core portion 3', so roportioned with a respect to coils n and o t at under normal 49 current its magnetizin effect is superior their mutually repe lant electrodynamm force, so as to hold core portion 9 in the position illustrated, wherein break terminalb is in contact with break terminal a. The

horns a and b-c are arran ed between the contact with terminal a.

' force becomes superior to the magnetizing movable core portion carrying the movable ment upon the outward movement of core portion g, to hold the break open.

In operation, the core portion 9 is normally held in the closed position by the magnetizing effect of coil 10, with terminal b 1n Upon the occurrence of an overload current such as on a short-circuit, series coils u and 0 are energized by the increased main current to a degree such that their repellant clectrodynamic effect of coil p. Thereupon the core portion 9 is quickly swung to the open osition, separating terminals 6 and a and opening the circult. The are is extinguished by the magnet along the horns a and 0, the magnet being additionally energized by the flow through coil m. For a re-setting,.the catch 9 must be released from its detent 1'. It will be observed that in the breaking movement the terminal I; is moved at a greater linear speed than the core portion 9 carrying coil n. As a result of the immediate action induced by the mutually repellant coils, and thequick movement of the terminal member 22, the break is instantaneous and positive, and by the action of the magnet and arcing horns, the arc is quickly extinguished.

What I claim is:

1. In a circuit breaker, the combination of a pair of arcin horns, one of said horns having a movab e contact portion for conductive engagement with the other horn, a

contact, a movable coil and a stationary coil arranged to exert mutually repellant efiects, saidmovable coil carried on the movable core member, and means holding the movable contact in closed position against the normal current influence of said coils.

current overload, comprising coils associated to exert mutuall repellant electrodynamic forces on each ot er, a movable member carrying one of said coils, cooperating vswitch contacts, one of said contacts carried by said movable member, current konnections leading the switch currentto the movable contact through said coils in series, and means- Y effective to hold the contacts closed while holding said contact in electrical connection with both horns against influence of said coils while they are carrying current of less than the tripping value.

5. A circuit breaker for a controlled cir-l cult comprising current coils associated to exert mutually repellant electrodynamic forces on each other, a contact member movable by said coils to open the controlled circuit, arcing horns cooperating with said contact, a blow-out ma et associated with said horns, and connections whereby said coils and magnet are energized by current traversing the contact member.

6. A circuit breaker comprising a ivoted member, a movable contact carried t ereby, a contact member cooperating with said movable contact member, current carr ing coils associated to exert mutuall re e lant electrodynamic forces on each ot er, one of hold the contact members in c oz'ed and operative connections where y t e conaewfaao said coils carried by said pivoted member between its pivot and the movable contact member, and connections through which said 1 coils are energized in series between the line terminals of the circuit breaker. 7. A circuit breaker having, in combinatlon, line terminals, relatively movable con- 'tact'members operable to open and close a circuit between said line terminals, means normally effective to hold the contact members in-closed position, and means to effect relative movement of the contact members to open the circuit between said line terminals, said means comprlsmg coils energized 1n serles 1n sald c1rcu1t and associated to exert mutuall repellant electrodynamic forces on each ot er.

8. In a circuit breaker, in combination, relatively movable contact members, line terminals arranged forconnection in series. by said contact members, coils connected in series between said terminals through said contact members, said coils associated to exert mutuall' repellant electrodynamic forces on each of; er, means normall efiective to osltion tacts are separated by the electrodynamic 'force of the coils upon an overload.

"In testimony whereofo I have hereunto subscribed my name at Lyon (France) on the 25 'day'of February A.D. i926.

' ARNOLD ROTH. 

